Display dish-rack.



nmssmos. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

J. B. TIMBERLAKE.

DISPLAY DISH RACK.

APPLICATION PILEDJUNE 16, 1904.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0., WASH|NGTON, u. c,

PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

J. B. TiMBERLAKE.

DISPLAY DISH RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE, OF J AOKSON, MICHIGAN.

DISPLAY DISH-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed June 16, 1904. Serial No. 212,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,haveinvented certainnew and useful Improvements in Display Dish-Racks, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in racks for supporting anddisplaying articles of various classes, particularly dishes, such asplates, saucers, and the like.

Figure 1 is a side view of a device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 isa plan view showing the dish-supporting element and the standard or legpart folded together. Fig. 3 is a side view of the parts when in thepositions shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing the dishsupportingelement when detached from the standard part and having its two sidesections brought into compact position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the legor standard detached. Fig. 6 is a side, and Fig. 7 is an end, view ofthe same. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the inside edge or face of one ofthe dish-supporting side bars. Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing aslight modification in the arrangement of the upper cross-bar of thedevice shown in Fig. 1.

The article as a whole may be considered as made up of two mainelements, one being the frame and attachments thereto with which thedishes directly engage and the other being the standard or leg by whichthe former is supported in an elevated position. As shown in thedrawings, the first of these elements (the dish-engaging part) isconstructed as follows: 1 1 are two bars preferably arrangedsubstantially parallel to each other. These are connected by means ofcross-bars 2, each of which has a foot-piece 8 and an inclined leg 4 ateach side and a crossconnecting rod 5. In order to attain certain ends,I prefer to so construct the foot-pieces 3 that they can serve as pivotsor hinges, as will be described below. They are seated in sockets 6,which are provided for them at intervals along the side bars 1 1. Byexamining Fig. 1 it will be seen that the inclination of the leg parts 4to the side bars 1 1 is such that when the rack as an entirety is put inthe position of use they will permit the articles to each lean slightlyin order to bring its center of gravity somewhat back of the verticalplane of the cross-bar 5, against which it rests. At the same time theshaping of these cross-supports is such that a relatively acute angle isformed between the leg parts 4 and the side bars 1 1 in order to snuglyhold in place the bottom edges of the dishes. It will thus be seen thatthe dish-engaging part or element of the rack has two sets or series ofsupports for the dishes arranged side by side, each formed of one of thebars-1 or 1 namented ware, such as decorated plates,'

saucers, and the like. Heretofore displayracks have been so made as tolie in horizontal planesthat is to say, so that the edges of the platesor other dishes supported thereby were all in the same horizontalplane-and in consequence the visual effect with respect to theconformation and the decoration of articles was limited to that whichcould be obtained by seeing the first one in the series. The rack whichI have devised greatly enhances the effect attainable from a series ofsuch articles,'as it not only brings more orless of each of them intoview, but throws into a species of perspective the entire series. Inorder to attain this result, Iprovide the abovedescribed element-that isto say, the dishengaging part proper-with a standard or leglike support.This maybe hinged and may be constructed in such way or related to theother element in such way that it will. lock itself against displacementwhen in the position of use. 7 indicates this part as an entirety of thedevice. As shown in the construction now being described, it consists ofa cross-bar or base 8, having legs or uprights 9, which at the top areconnected by pintles or pivots 10 to the side bars 1 1 of the rack,being fitted insuitable bearings, as at 11. In order to furnish a stopto limit the pivotal movement and prevent backward movement of thestandard or support 7 when the holder is set up, I prefer to bend theupper ends of the uprights or legs 9, so as to provide the shoulders at12, which are adapted to lie unl der and engage with the under sides ofthe bars 1 1. i

By examining Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the two elements areconnected together the article as a whole can be folded into small spaceand is ready for instant use by simply throwing the standard. or legelement 7 down and out into the position shown in Fig. 1; but inasmuchas it is desirable to have the parts of the device frequentlypaoked in astill more compact form I provide for this by constructing the standardor leg element 7 in such Way that its pivotal connections at 10 can bereadily detached from the side bars 1 1, as shown in Fig. 5, andthereupon the dish-supporting element can have its parts instantlythrown into position as .shown in Fig. 4that is to say, the side bars 11 can be brought side by side and in a small compass. Thecross-connecting de vices at 2 2 are not only at each end connectedpivotally to the side bars 1 1 but are arranged in parallelism each withthe others, so that the several parts are united by a connection of thenature of a parallel-rule joint.

To provide for varying the angle of inclination of the dish-rack when itis put into the position of use, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide for-anadjustment of the standard or leg element 7. Such adjustment can beobtained in any of several ways. I have shown and prefer a simple mannerof adjusting it, which consists in providing a series of bearing socketsor apertures 11 for the legpintles- 10, these being of any desirednumber and the series being of any desired length. By connecting the legor standard at a higher point in the series the rack will be held in aposition correspondingly nearer the horizontal; but when it is attachedin one of the lower bearings the rack and the dishes thereon as a seriesWill be held on lines more nearly vertical. This enables the merchant tovary the angle of inclination to correspond to the shapes and relativesizes of the varying sets of articles.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification of the device shown in Fig. 1,this modified device being adapted for displaying at the top of the rackof a relatively large bowl or dish. The upper oross-bar is bent upwardlyand rearwardly, as indicated at 2, so as to provide an enlarged spacebetween it and the next bar lower on the rack. This particular portionof the device is thus adapted to receive a bowl or dish of considerabledepth, the idea being to place in it a bowl such as is used for saladsor other purposes and to display in the rack-sections beneath it thedishes which make up the set.

What I claim is 1. A dish-holding rack having in combination two sidesupporting-bars, a series of cross-connecting dish-engaging rodspivotally connected to the said supports and adapted to permit them tofold against each other, and means for holding the said side supportsand cross-connecting rods as a series in an in clined position,substantially as set forth.

2. A dish-holding rack having in combination a series ofuniformly-spaced rearwardlyinclined dish-supports, a rearwardlyinclinedsupport at the top of said series adapted to support a relatively largerdish than those supported by the said first-mentioned supports, and astandard for said dish-holding element, substantially asset forth.

3. A dish-holding rack comprising two side bars, a series ofcross-connecting dishengaging rods pivotally connecting the bars andarranged to permit them to fold close to each other when the rack is notin use, and means for holding the side bars apart and for supportingthem in an inclined position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B TIMBERLAKE.

Witnesses:

E. O. BADGLEY, GRACE A. LAVERTY.

